Railway-switch-controlling apparatus



Jan. 28, 1930. L. E. SPRAY 1,7 4,

RAILWAY SWITCH CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed April 17, 1928 P 10? Mu 1] INYENTORI Lester E.' PI'Qy wam Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LESTER E. SPRAY, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA RAILWAY-SWITCH-CONTROLLING I APPARATUS Application filed April 17,

My invention relates to railway switch controlling apparatus of the type wherein a railway switch is controlled by a manually operable lever, the movements of which lever are in turn governed by indication apparatus controlled by the switch.

One feature of my invention is the provision of means for utilizing the switch control wires as portions of the circuit for the indication apparatus.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character S designates a railway switch which is moved. from normal to reverse positions and vice-versa by an electric motor M through a suitable operating mechanism which is not shown in the drawing, but which is designated by a dotted line 20. The motor M is controlled by a pole-changer P actuated by a manually operable lever L. The movements of the lever L are in turn governed by an indication relay R, which is controlled by a pole-changer P actuated by the switch S. The means for governing the lever L by the indication relay R is not shown in the drawing, because it forms no partof my invention. This means may be of any suitable type, such, for example, as the apparatus illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,101,036, granted to B. F. Oler on June 23, 1914.

As shown in the drawing, the switch S and the lever L are both in the normal position. "When the operator desires to reverse the switch S, he swings the lever L to the right, thereby reversing the position of polechanger P Current then flows from a battery 5, through the right-hand arm of pole- .changer P wire 7, armature 1 of motor M,

asymmetric unit 14, field winding 2 of motor M, contact 13 operated by switch S, asymmetric unit 16, reactance 19. wire 8. reactance 9, and the left-hand arm of pole-changer P to battery 5. The motor M then rotates in such direction as tomove the switch from 1928. Serial No, 270,698. 1

8, reactance 19, asymmetric unit 17, field winding 2 of motor M, contact 12 operated by switch S, asymmetric unit 15, armature 1 of motor M, wire 7 and the left-hand arm of pole-changer P to battery '5. Motor M then rotates in such direction as to return the switch S to its normal position, and when the switch reaches this position contact 12 opens so that the motor comes to rest.

The indication relay R is of the type which responds to alternating current but not to direct current. This relay comprises two windings 3 and 4, and the winding 4 is constantly supplied with alternating current from a source which is not shown in the drawing, but the terminals of which are designated by the reference characters B and X.

It follows that relay B. responds to reversals of the relative polarity of alternating current supplied to the winding 3. This winding 3 is connected with the line wires 7 and 8 at a point near the lever L. Also connected with the line wires 7 and 8 at a point near the switch S is the secondary of a transformer 6, the pole-changer P beinginterposed between this secondary and the line wires. constantly supplied with alternating current from the terminals B and X. When the switch S is in the normal position, winding 3 of relay R is supplied with current of normal relative polarity, and when the switch is in the reverse position this winding is supplied with current of reverse relative polarity. When the switch is in an intermediate position, winding 3 is placed on short circuit through the arms of pole-changer P and a conductor 21. A condenser 18 is interposed between pole-changer P and the line wire 7, and another condenser ll is interposed between relay R and line wire 7,

The primary of transformer 6 is the purpose of these condensers being to prevent direct current from the battery 5 reaching the indication apparatus. The purpose of reactances 9 and 19 is to prevent the trans former 6 from being placed on short circuit by battery 5 and switch motor M. The purpose of reactance 10 is to counteract at least in part the effect of condensers 11 and 18 in the circuit of relay It.

It will be seen that the switch motor M is responsive to direct current but not to alternating current, whereas, the indication relay R is responsive to alternating current but not to direct current. It will also be noted that the line wires 7 and 8, which are included in the control circuit for the motor M, are also included in the circuit for the indication device It, so that only two line wires between lever L and the switchare necessary for both control and indication.

In the present disclosure the switch motor M is operated by current supplied by a battery 5, but it is understood that my invention may be applied to other forms of apparatus for controlling'theswitchS by the lever L.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a railway switch, mechanism for the control of said switch and responsive to reversals of the polarity of the current with which it is supplied, a manually operable lever including a pole-changer, a circuit for said switch mechanism including a source of current and said pole-changer, an indication device for said lever, and a circuit for said indication device controlled by said switch and including the wires of the said mechanism circuit.

2. In combination, a switch mechanism responsive to reversals of the polarity of the current with which it is supplied; a railway switch controlled by said mechanism, a pair of control wires connected with said mechanism, means including a pole-changer for supplying said wires with current of one polarity or the other, a lever for the operation of said pole-changer, an indication device for said lever, and a circuit for said indication device controlled by said switch and includ ing the wires of the said mechanism circuit.

3. In combination, a railway switch, a lever, a control circuit for said switch gov erned by said lever, an indication relay for the control of said lever and responsive to reversals of the polarity "of the current with which it is supplied, and a circuitfor said indication relay including the wires of said switch control circuit and a pole-changer opt meaear [the current with which it is supplied, and

a circuit for said indication relay including the wires of said switch mechanism circuit and a pole-changer operated by said switch as well as a source of current difiering in character from said first source.

'5. In combination, a railway switch, operating means for said switch responsive to reversals of the polarity of the current with which it is supplied, a manually operable le- I ver, a pole-changer actuated by said lever, a control circuit including said switch operating means and said pole-changer, an indication device for said lever responsive to reversals of the polarity of the current with which it is supplied, a second pole-changer operated by said switch, a circuit for said indication device including said second polechanger and the wires of said control circuit, and means for supplying current of one characteristic to said first pole-changer and current of a difierent characteristic to said second pole-changer.

6. In combination, a railway switch, operating means for said switch responsive to reversals of the polarity of the current with which it is supplied, a manually operable lover, a pole-hhanger actuated -by said lever,

a control circuit including said switch operating means and said pole-changer, an indication device for said lever responsive to, reversals of the polarity of the current with which it is supplied, a second pole-changer o erated by said switch, a circuit for said indlcation device including said second poleswitch, mechchanger and the wires of said control circuit,

and means for supplying direct current to saidfirst pole-changer and alternating current to said second pole-changer.

7. In combination, a railway switch, a manually operable lever, a first pole-changer operated by said lever, a second pole-changer operated by said switch, a source of current of one characteristic connected with said first pole-changer, a source of current of a diflerw cut characteristic connected with said second 'poleschanger, switch operating means responsive to .reversals of the polarity of current from said first source but not responsive to current from said second source, an indication device for said lever responsive to reversals of the polarity of current from said second source but not responsive to current from said first source, a switch control circuit including said first pole-changer and said switch operating means as well as a pair of line wires, and an indication circuit including said second pole-changer and said indication device as well as said pair ofline wires.

8. In combination, a railway switch, a manually operable lever, a first pole-changer operated by said lever, a second pole-changer operated by said switch, a source of direct current connected with said first pole-changer, a source of alternating current connected with said second pole-changer, switch operating means responsive to reversals of the polarity of direct current but not responsive to alternating'current, an indication device for said lever, responsive to reversals of the relative polarity of alternating current but not responsive to direct current, a switch control circuit including said first pole-changer and said switch operating means as well as a pair of line wires, and an indication circuit including said secdnd pole-changer and said indication device as well as said pair of line wires.

9. In combination, a railway switch, a manually operable lever, a first pole-changer operated by said lever, a second pole-changer operated by said switch, .a source of current of one characteristic connected with said first polerhanger, a source of current of a different characteristic connected with said second pole-changer, switch operating means responsive to reversals of the polarity of current from said first source but not responsive to current from said second source, an indication device for said lever responsive to reversals of the polarity of current from said second source but not responsive to current from said first source, a switch control circuit including said first pole-changer and said switch operating means as well as a pair of line wires, an indication circuit including said second pole-changer and said indication device as well as said palr of line Wires, means for preventing current from said first sourcefrom reaching said indication device, and means for preventing current from said second source from reaching said switch operating means.

10. In combination, a railway switch, a manually operable lever, a first pole-changer operatedby said lever, a second pole changer operated by said switch, a source of direct current connected with said first pole-changer, a source of alternating current connected with said second pole-changer, switch operating means responsive to reversals of the polarity of direct current but not responsive to alternating current, an indication device for said lever responsive to reversals of the relative polarity of alternating current but not responsive to direct current, a switch control circuit including said first pole-changer and said switch operating means as well as a pair of line wires, an indication circuit including said second pole-changer and said indication device as well as said pair of line wires, means for preventing direct current from reaching said indication device, and means for preventing alternating current from reaching said switch operating means.

11. In combination, a railway switch, a manuallyoperable lever, a first pole-changer operated by said lever, a second pole-changer operated by said switch, a source of direct current connected with said first pole-changer, a source of alternating current connected with said second pole-changer, switch operating means responsive to reversals of the polarity of direct current but not responsive to alternating current, an indication device for said lever responsive to reversals of the relative polarity of alternating current but not responsive to direct current, a switch control circuit including said first pole-changer and said switch operating means as well as a pair ofv line wires, an indication circuit including said second pole-changer and said indication device as well as said pair of line wires, a condenser interposed between said indication device and one of said line wires, and a reactance interposed in one of said line wires between said switch operating means and the point of connection of said second polechanger.

12. In combination, a railway switch, a manually operable lever, a source of current of one characteristic located at said lever, a

source of current of a different characteristic located at said switclnswitch operating means responsive to current from said first source but not responsive to current from said second source, an indication device for said lever responsive to current from said second source but not to current from said first source, a switch circuit controlled by said le-' ver and including said first source of current as well as saidswitch operating means and line wires, and an indication circuit for said indication device controlled by said switch and including said second source of current as well as said line wires.

13. In combination, a railway switch, a manually operable lever, a source of current of one characteristic located at said lever, a source of current of a different characteristic located at said switch, switch operating means responsive to current from said first source but not responsive to current from said second source, an indication device for said lever responsive to current from said second source but not to current from. said first source, a switch circuit controlledby said lever and including said first source of current as well as said switch operating means and line wires, an indication circuit for said indication device controlled by said switeh and including said second source of current as well as said line wires, means'for preventing current from said first source from reaching said indication device, and means for preventing current iromsaid second source from reaching said switch operating means.

14. In combination, a railway switch,- a manually operable lever, a source of direct current located at said lever, a source of alter- I nating current located at said switch, switch operating means responsive 'to direct current but not to alternating current, an indication device for said lever responsive to alternating current but not to direct current, a switch circuit controlled by said lever and including saidsource of direct current as well as said switch operating means andtlfe line Wires,"

and an indication circuit for said indication device controlled by said switch and including said source of alternating current as well as said line wires. 7

15. In combination, a railway switch, a manually operable lever, a source of direct current located at said lever, a source of alternating current located at said switch, switch operating means responsive to direct current but not to alternating current, an indication device for said lever responsive to alternating current but notto direct current, a switch circuit controlled by'said lever and including said source of direct current as Well as said switch operating means and the line wires, an indication circuit for said indication device controlled by said switch and including said source of alternating current as well as said line wg'res, means for preventing direct current om reaching said indication device,

' and means for-preventingalternating current from reaching said switch 0 crating nieans.

16. In combination, a rallway switch, a manually operable lever, a source of direct current located at said lever, a source of alternating current located at said switch, switch operating means responsive to direct c'urrent but not to alternating current, an indication device for said lever responsive to alternating current but not to direct current, a switch circuit controlled by said lever and including said source of direct current as well as said switch operating means and the line wires, an

indication circuit for said indication device controlled by said switch and including said source of alternating current as well as said line wires, a condenser interposed between said indication device and one 0t said line wires, and a reactance interposed inone of said line wires between said switch operating means and the point of connection of said indication circuit with such line wires.

17. In combination, a railway switch, mechanism for the control of said switch and responsive to-reversals of the polarity of the current with which it is supplied, a manually operable lever including an pole-changer, a circuit for said switch mechanism including a first source of current and said pole-changer, an indication relay for the control of said lever and responsiveto reversals of..the po .for retarding the flow of current from said second source through said switch mechanism, and means for retarding the flow of current from said second source through said first source.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LESTER E. SPRAY. 

